Israeli authorities have identified the perpetrator of the July 31 arson attack that killed three members of a Palestinian family, but have chosen to prevent legal recourse in order to protect the identity of their sources, according to Haaretz.

The information was disclosed by Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon during a closed meeting of some 20 young Likud activists, from Israel’s major centre-right party, in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

The Dawabesh family home was torched two months ago, when attackers threw flammable liquids and Molotov cocktails through the windows, in the early hours of the morning.

The attack killed 18-month infant Ali Dawabsha instantly. His father, Saad, died from his injuries eight days later, followed by his mother, Riham, who died on Sunday. The deceased couple’s remaining child, 4-year-old Ahmed, is still in hospital and in a serious condition.

The family home was destroyed by the fire, and the words 'Vengeance’ and 'long live the Messiah’ were spray-painted on a wall alongside the Jewish Star of David.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu described the incident as 'Jewish terrorism’ and pledged to tackle the issue.

Following the attack, and at Ya’alon’s request, the political-security cabinet expanded the use of rights-violating practices such as administrative detention against suspected Jewish terrorists, a practice generally reserved for Palestinians suspected of terror activities.

Three Jewish suspects are currently being detained without trial for terrorist activities but none have been publicly associated with the arson attack on the Dawabsheh family home.

The Israeli authorities’ response to the attack on the Dawabshe family highlights the stark contrast between their dealings with 'nationalistically motivated’ Israeli hate crimes against Palestinians, and Palestinian attacks against Israelis.

Following the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank last year, Israel launched a major military operation in the West Bank, dubbed “Operation Brother’s Keeper.” Over 500 Palestinians were arrested and six killed during the operations, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Society.

Meanwhile, according to data from human rights organisation Yesh Din, only 7.4 percent of investigations into settler attacks on Palestinians have led to indictment between 2005 and 2014.